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Thursday, December 23, 1999
Sutter keeping Freddie praise to a minimum
CALGARY (CP) -- Fred Brathwaite has become a favourite of Calgary Flames fans but coach Brian Sutter is making sure the young goaltender's head doesn't get too big.When someone called Brathwaite "phenomenal," in a casual conversation recently, Sutter blinked and said, "I wouldn't say phenomenal . . . ."
Sutter, in fact, has almost gone out of his way to deflect praise from the man most responsible for this surge up the standings. He's left the mushy quotes, to others.
"I don't care," Brathwaite told the Calgary Sun. "As long as he lets me play the next night."
But there could be a method to his madness. Sutter needs Brathwaite to maintain his edge, especially now that Grant Fuhr has been shelved by arthroscopic knee surgery.
"People that get comfortable get complacent, lackadaisical," Sutter said. "Early in the year, it wasn't there for him.
"He can't forget that. He's got to keep pushing himself. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. You've got to be consistent. You've got to want to be the best, like the Larry Birds, Michael Jordans and Wayne Gretzkys."
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